Central High enforces school uniform policy, a bit late

Updated 1:08 am, Wednesday, April 10, 2013

BRIDGEPORT -- Wearing a thin white top with lacy sleeves and matching white plastic sunglasses, Central High School senior Kenji Johnson uttered a few choice words when she learned that her school would suddenly be enforcing a districtwide school uniform policy.

"There is only 40 days left of school. No one is going to do it," said Johnson, standing outside the school on a sultry spring day made for tank tops -- not polo shirts and khakis.

Her circle of friends, none in uniform, nodded in agreement.

The edict, made during morning announcements Tuesday by Principal Stephen Anderson and sent home to parents by letter, was ordered by the district administration after some board members learned that the district's 2-year-old high school uniform policy was being ignored at Central.

"How come Bassick does it? How come Harding does it?" said Hernan Illingworth, a school board member who was part of the districtwide parent organization that successfully called for a uniform policy.

Uniforms became mandatory in city high schools in fall 2011, two years after they were mandated at the elementary school level. The idea was to take the competition out of what kids wear and set a professional tone in schools.

Illingworth, whose daughter attends Central, said he heard from teachers and parents that the school principal has made it clear he is not in favor of the policy and therefore was not going to enforce it.

"I am sorry, that is unacceptable," Illingworth said. "It is a district policy. He can't decide he is not going to do it."

Anderson, reached on Tuesday, wouldn't share his personal views on the district policy he inherited when came to the school last summer, but said he is happy to cooperate with the mandate. Until now, only about half of the 2,104 students at Central complied with the policy, Anderson said, though some students said the number was much lower.

"It is a board policy and we are abiding by it," said Anderson.

On Tuesday, Illingworth and Sandra Kase, the chief administrative officer for the district, visited Central while Anderson told the student body over the intercom that it was time to comply.

"We need your help ... I ask you to come in tomorrow in uniform and the next day," said Anderson, who then read off a list of what was considered acceptable dress -- red, white or black collared shirts and black or khaki pants belted at the waist. Blue jeans would not be permitted.

Anderson also read off some of the penalties for failing to come in uniform. Rather than suspension, students who repeatedly break the dress code will lose privileges. If they play baseball, for instance, they won't be allowed to play if they don't wear a uniform to school.

When the announcement was made, Johnson, 17, said she almost felt bad for the principal.

"In the beginning, he was trying to have casual Friday and all. Now it's like we have to wear it all the time," she said.

Soledad Cortes, 17, said everyone started debating the uniform policy in class after the announcement.

"Most people want to know why they are doing it now," Cortes said. "We have other matters to focus on."

Some students complied with the uniform policy at the beginning, but then looked around and realized that few others were.

In Anderson's letter to Central parents on Tuesday, he said uniforms were a benefit to school security.

"Uniforms help us identify, at a glance, people who do not belong in the building," he wrote, asking parents to check what their children are wearing when they leave the house in the morning. "As we move into the final quarter of the school year, we are asking your help in raising the standard of attire."

Javier Segui, 16, a sophomore wearing a uniform -- a white polo shirt and khaki shorts -- attended a parochial elementary school so said there was no adjustment for him. But he noted that it's April.

"I do think they should have enforced it from the beginning of the year," Segui said. "Now, it is a little bit too late."